If enough buildings on the sprawling campus are deemed suitable for occupation, then they will try to continue having class on the Murphy site. That would be easier for the parents, and for bus transportation.

But, if architects working for the school system and with the state determine tomorrow that too many buildings were damaged beyond occupation, the school system will have to find a place to temporarily house the students. Peek said she's hopeful the students would only be displaced for one academic quarter.

"Our first priority will be student safety," Peek said.

In the past, when Mobile County schools were damaged or caught fire, they shared another campus on a split-shift, with one school attending class in the mornings, and the other in the evenings. That's what happened in 2004, when officials determined that the roof at Allentown Elementary was not structurally sound, and months later when Causey Middle caught fire.

But Murphy's large size could present a challenge in sharing a campus. Some on campus today were talking about finding a site, such as the Mobile Civic Center, to hold class.

All Mobile County public school students got out for Christmas break on Friday, and are scheduled to return to class Jan. 3. Teachers are expected to return Jan. 2.

Crews have been at Murphy all day assessing the damage from the Christmas Day tornado that struck the area.

There are major structural concerns in some of the buildings on Murphy's sprawling campus on Carlen Street, including the auditorium, where 40 percent of the roof was blown off, and in the cafeteria, where the roof appears to have been lifted, but dropped back down.

Windows in the main building were shattered, with glass and other debris coming into the classrooms and hallway.

The canopies between the various buildings on campus are all gone. A main concern is the electrical wiring, a lot of which was attached to those canopies.

About six portable classrooms were blown away, with only one remaining.

The air-conditioning units of the biology building were lifted up and off the roof, leaving gaping holes. Athletic facilities and the band room were badly damaged.

Every building of the sprawling campus has been touched.

The good news, Peek said during a news conference today, is that the school system's facilities department has weathered hurricanes and other storms in recent years, and are good about getting schools back into repair.